CORONATION LIBRARY

Southland Times, Issue 20201, 11 June 1927, Page 2

CORONATION LIBRARY

THE GORE BODY. ANNUAL MEETING HELD. The annual meeting of the Gore Coronation Public Library was held last evening, the Mayor, Mr D. McDougall presiding over a good attendance of the public. | ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated inter alia:— ; The number of visitors to the readingroom for the year was 50,612. The number of books issued was 31,485. The sub- j scribers have reached the record number of 385 members, and subscriptions from adult 1 and junior members total £233 2/6. The number of works of fiction purchased during the year was 287, while suitable works , of general literature were purchased from the “Peter Anderson Bequest.” The committee has had under consideration the replenishing of the Juvenile Library, and an order for £25 worth of suitable books for this department has been placed in London, j and should shortly be available. It is the , intention of the committee to make further additions from time to time to the Childrens’ Library so that interest in that department may be maintained. The library will shortly be strengthened by the addition of a large number of works subscribed by the friends of our late secretary, Mr George Matheson. The committee w’as approached by the Matheson Memorial Committee to set aside a special section of the library to be devoted to suitable works purchased out of this special fund, and it gladly complied with the request. The matter of suitable bindings for the works of fiction purchased ‘ for the library is receiving attention. The flimsy bindings of novels nowadays are quite insufficient for rhe severe handling they receive in a circulating library. Inquiries are being made as to the expense of having these works stoutly and uniformly bound. The librarian (Miss C. M. MacDonald) and her assistant (Miss Hamilton) are deserving of special mention for the capable and painstaking manner in which the interests of the institution have been safeguarded. The committee desires to thank Messrs Harraway, J. Anderson and H. Shepherd and others for gifts of flowers to the institution. BALANCE SHEET. The balance sheet showed that subscriptions in the senior section amounted to £214 17/6, and in the juvenile section to £8 5/-. The donation by the Gore Borough Council was £235 11/6, while the Peter Anderson bequest brought in £34 11/2. Sale of books and magazines realised £2B 14/1. The chief items of expenditure were: Periodicals and magazines £79 8/7; books purchased from the General Fund £4O 3/4; books purchased from the Peter Anderson bequest £42 4/4; salaries £224 3/4. Sundries brought the total to £462 4/2, leaving a credit balance of £159 4/5. The secretary, Mr A. L. Dolamore, said that the real financial position was not disclosed in the balance sheet. Two large consignments of books had been received from London but the accounts had not been presented before the end of the financial year. It was not the policy of the committee to hoard up funds; it was recognised that the library must be kept up-to-date. The report and balance sheet were adopted without comment. The following were elected the subscribers’ representatives on the committee: A. S. Fleming, E. C. Smith and A. L. Dolamore. Mr Dolamore was re-elected secretary and Mr W. Gee auditor. The Rev. N. Burgess remarked on the great preponderance of works of fiction over those of non-fiction and the neglected state of the religious sections. More than fiction was wanted in a town of the size of Gore. He also commented upon the comparative amounts spent on books and magazines. •Mr Dolamore said that if non-fiction works were procured the number of subscribers would drop off. The committee members could set themselves up as dictators of the public taste. Numerous additions to the religious shelves were soon to be made. It was realised that a go-ahead policy should be followed.